New Role as Councilor: Principles & Platform

POLITICAL PRINCIPLES
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My role as Councilor will endeavor to realize my commitment to God and all the residents of our municipality, a commitment that revolves around these five principles of government:

Austerity

• Our town needs government that is efficient and which makes careful use of financial resources. The current difficult times demand that we do more with less, that we eliminate the non-essential, and that we act responsibly to achieve better government with resources which belong to everyone.

Information

• All activity of our Town Hall must be transparent. Our government must be committed to supplying information about its activities on a constant basis. Provide maximum advance information and transparency in all future decisions, making use of new technology such as the internet in order to do so, publicizing plenary meetings, carrying out public consultations, etc.

Standards

• I believe in improving the town’s image, to act responsibly and openly, and in accordance with the highest standards of public office as well as government by rule of law. Ensuring that the future development of Mansalay be planned and supervised through legislative processes according to the real needs of people, not based on short-term and unsustainable speculation.

Dialogue

• I believe in continuous dialogue and will work towards finding the best solutions, in broad-based political agreements that join together and benefit all our people.

Freedom

• I believe that a free society is also more equitable. That is why we must ensure that when we act in the name of freedom, in whatever form it might take, that that freedom is real for all the citizens of our municipality.


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PRIORITIES & PLATFORM
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1. HEALTH

• Work towards improving health services in Barangay level, including availability of regular health check-ups and free medicines, exploring all avenues to rectify inadequate services to the outlying and remote areas.

• Review community health and sanitary problems related to incomplete infrastructure such as the sewage and waste disposal system as part of primary health care and attempt to address them.

• Work towards improving existing local health services, especially regards to the health and nutritional needs of the children, child bearing population, elderly and indigenous population.

• Endeavor to sustain Feeding Program and Healthy Teeth Campaign at Community Day Care Centers and elementary schools I personally started five years ago.

• Conduct regular health teachings and family education with regards to local health concerns, nutrition, morbidity and epidemics.

2. EDUCATION

• Provide maximum advance in terms of education through the use of new technology such as the internet and computers.

• Improve the town educational status through teacher empowerment, without forgetting to invest in and maintain the indigent Mangyan communities which have traditionally been overlooked.

• Promote opportunities for college and technical education.

• Attempt to accelerate the provision and construction of low-cost education and training programs.

• Endeavor to ensure maximum transparency in the municipal budget, as well as equitable allocation of services and funding for education.

3. YOUTH & EMPLOYMENT

• Encourage recreation activities for young people such as sports and other skills training.

• Encourage participation of young citizens in matters related to town activities.

• Encourage to increase youth participation in all major decisions affecting the town, encouraging attendance at public gatherings and meetings

• Increase activities to facilitate meaningful integration of the different Christian & Mangyan youth groups.

• Help in providing opportunities for technical skills training, scholarships and college education.

• Help in coordinating the town’s tourism plans such that local businesses are supported.

5. ENVIRONMENT & TOURISM

• Encourage the creation of sustainable employment, particularly in sectors related to the development of tourism and the town’s historic & ethnic heritage, sustainable construction and maintenance, or workshops in new ecological activities, etc.

• Help in designing a comprehensive tourism plan highlighting the town’s historical and ecological value, encouraging participation of all commercial sectors of the town.

• Encourage a professional workshop for the introduction of and experimentation in ecological agriculture in Mansalay.

• Promote the reforestation and proper garbage disposal

• Lobby for and promote usage of a municipal tourism site built according to ecological and sustainable principles.

Healthy Teeth Campaign & Feeding Program - 5th Year (Salvacion Elem. School)

"Healthy Teeth Campaign" will target youngsters through a literacy campaign utilizing outreach through community and school visits. The campaign provides a pair of toothbrush and toothpastes to drive awareness for critical stages of pediatric oral health care. 

            Keep Hope Alive’s Foundation Feeding Program provides a healthy and nutritious meal to students after class is in session.   The food is administered in the school and is sourced locally or regionally.   Students bring their own cups or bowls for their meal.  In addition to providing rice for their children's meals, volunteer to manage the program, build and maintain the kitchen, prepare and distribute the meals,

         The Feeding Program is very popular and loved by students, parents and teachers.  In our pilot school, Salvacion Elementary School, the food is so delicious that students wait for second helpings and make sure that there are no leftovers!

The Feeding Program improves:

1)   Student attendance and retention

2)   Student health and nutrition

3)   Classroom attention and test scores

4)   Parent involvement

Generation Full Force (Or. Mindoro District Camp '12)

       When I first heard about the GFF District Camp I got very excited – it sounds amazing! A Provincial-wide camp, gathering of young people from all around Oriental Mindoro Foursquare Gospel Churches to do what they like the most, honoring God, playing games and making friends! I applied for a week-long vacation right away.

Young people enjoyed an exciting three-day Sports Fest and fun, sweet worship, interactive seminars and group bonding sessions, fellowships, and so much more.

It was an amazing experience being in a crowd of young people worshiping together and valuing their relationship with God, and I am really blessed looking forward to it; however, I know that we don’t go there just for fun. We go there with a purpose. We were to make an impact in our generation, even if this change is small.

This network of young people is created not to be broken and forgotten, but to strengthen its chains and grow. The division into separate teams at the camp is virtual rather than real; it’s impossible to talk about unity, making disciples and honoring God without mentioning faith, integrity and excellence, and it’s impossible to develop these areas without leadership and discipline. After the end of the camp the campers take on this new responsibility to their local churches and their communities.

We are excited to have a group of young people that would break down barriers and build unity among our generation. That was our hearts' desire and the Lord granted us that and so much more.

On the last day of camp, I am blessed and moved by the heartfelt worship of the young people who stood up to praise God.  The message encouraged each other to keep following Jesus no matter what! Indeed, every camp is an awesome experience with the Lord and the youth went home on fire and blessed.

But, after a few weeks or months the ‘experience’ can be pushed into the past by problems, pressures, and friends, etc. That is why our camps are planned out to be more than just an experience with God but to be a life-changing encounter that would be a turning point in their lives.

Someone once told me that a bird doesn’t fly because it needs to, but because it has wings; it needs to fly, it has an urge to fly. Now, we are the birds, and in time, we will grow our wings. We will learn how to make a difference carrying the FULL FORCE of the GENERATION.

However, one Pastor said that we can see the whole world if only we’re standing on the giant’s shoulder. Meaning, we can only fulfill our dreams if we’re stepping along the right track, and if we’re in the middle of great young people of this generation. We have God’s shoulders, forever. 

We praise the Lord for the awesome work He did through this camp and we give Him all the glory and honor!

 

 
Jeremy Camp -  2008  - Speaking Louder Than Before...